Harris Eyes a Rural Maine Congressional District in a Hunt for Every Possible Electoral Vote

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: US News and World Report/AP

Oct. 19, 2024, at 12:01 a.m.


LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Rob Rogers has seen his rural corner of New England turn into a stronghold for Donald Trump in two consecutive elections. But this year he's feeling hopeful that Vice President Kamala Harris could reclaim a potentially decisive electoral vote for Democrats.

“Let me just say, in the presidential election, I'm astounded that the Republican Party can't do better,” said Rogers, a registered Democrat who is a draftsman in tiny Chesterville, Maine. “I think it will be close, but I just don't know how it's going to go." Democrats might need voters like Rogers to be right.

In a presidential contest that’s expected to be tight, this year every electoral vote could matter. That's why the Harris campaign has cast its eyes northward to Maine, home to one of the largest, coldest and most rural congressional districts in the country. At least part of the state could play an unexpected role in deciding this year's presidential election — not to mention control of Congress.

Maine is one of two states that apportions electoral votes by congressional district — the other is Nebraska. Trump has won Maine's 2nd Congressional District vote by more than 7 percentage points twice in a row. Both times, it was the only electoral vote he won in New England, and in 2020 it was his only electoral vote northeast of Appalachia.

Read more: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/maine/articles/2024-10-19/harris-eyes-a-rural-maine-congressional-district-in-a-hunt-for-every-possible-electoral-vote

[2naSalit]

1. I suspect...

That after J6, he lost a lot of that support. I was in that area last spring and while I only encountered a few people, one business owner I spoke to most was an avid rumper, involved in local politics, but he came out early in the conversation with his disdain at the J6 event. Being a veteran, one in his 50s now, he could not support anyone who would have people storm the capitol on his command.

There are a lot of veterans in that area and a lot of people who are true patriots and will never support that assbite, even if they did before.

Maine is not in favor of the orange ogre.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. I was happy when Maine

finally got rid of that asshat LePage.

[2naSalit]

3. SO was I...

Though I was horrified that he was ever elected the first time.

[eppur_se_muova]

4. Huge portions of northern ME have no public roads -- only logging roads. Huge stretches of woods.

I lived in Lewiston* at one time. While there are several great private (and very liberal) colleges in the area, they are small, and the rural people are not much influenced by them. Most of the area was in decline while I was there (not suggesting I should take the blame) and was trying to rebuild after all the old mill towns had lost their jobs to overseas cheap labor. At the time, it was one of the most impoverished areas in the country. I met a few of those rural people while house-hunting and they were some of the unfriendliest people I met -- I wouldn't have been surprised to be met with a shotgun in some places. I stayed as close to the college as I could after that.





*The Lewiston-Auburn Metropolitan Area", or "Greater L/A Metroplex ".

[Easterncedar]

5. I got moved to CD2 in the last redistricting

I am hoping the blue dilution will help!

[FailureToCommunicate]

6. Glad to see this. That part of Maine may be where Tucker summers, but there are plenty of

HARRIS/Walz signs everywhere.

Let's go 2nd Maine! Help once again to save the Union, and possibly our entire Democracy!